Switch keyboard layouts with a launcher like Synapse

Question

There are some light desktops like Openbox and Fluxbox that may not have a panel applet/switcher for keyboard layouts. I fact even those that work, had some problems.

In such a case switching keyboard layouts through a program launcher like Synapse would be a good solution.

Is it possible?

@Ramesh - I have tried to clarify the purpose of the question — , Oct 14 '15 at 09:42
@ EricRenouf - I have tried to clarify the purpose of the question — , Oct 14 '15 at 09:43
@Anthon - I have edited and tried to clarify the purpose of the question — , Oct 14 '15 at 09:44

score 2 · Accepted Answer · 2018-08-27T12:10:19.413

That can be done by adding the specific keyboard layout command into a .desktop file saved in ~/.local/share/applications along the other desktop files that launchers like Synapse can therefore access.

The keyboard layout command to select a certain layout is like:

setxkbmap us intl

Change us with the desired language and intl with variant if necessary.

For French it should be setxkbmap fr. Etc. A list of all possible keyboard layouts and other parameters can be found in: /usr/share/X11/xkb/rules/xorg.lst.

The desktop file should have a form similar to

[Desktop Entry]
Name=US - Keyboard US International dead Keys
Exec=setxkbmap us intl
Icon=path/to/some/icon/file
Terminal=false
Type=Application
Categories=Application;Utility;

Switch keyboard layouts with a launcher like Synapse

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